Proverbs 3

Trust in the LORD

1 My son, don’t forget my instruction.
Let your heart guard my commands,
2 because they will help you live
a long time
and provide you with well-being.
3 Don’t let loyalty and faithfulness
leave you.
Bind them on your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will find favor and approval
in the eyes of God and humanity.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart;
don’t rely on your own intelligence.
6 Know him in all your paths,
and he will keep your ways straight.
7 Don’t consider yourself wise.
Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 Then your bodyt will be healthy
and your bones strengthened.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth
and with the first of all your crops.
10 Then your barns will be filled
with plenty,
and your vats will burst with wine.
11 Don’t reject the instruction of the LORD, my son;
don’t despise his correction.

12 The LORD loves those he corrects,
just like a father who treats his son with favor.

Value of wisdom

13 Happy are those who find wisdom
and those who gain understanding.
14 Her profit is better than silver,
and her gain better than gold.
15 Her value exceeds pearls;
all you desire can’t compare with her.
16 In her right hand is a long life;
in her left are wealth and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant;
all her paths are peaceful.
18 She is a tree of life
to those who embrace her;
those who hold her tight are happy.
19 The LORD laid the foundations
of the earth with wisdom,
establishing the heavens
with understanding.

20 With his knowledge,
the watery depths burst open,
and the skies drop dew.

Integrity of wisdom

21 My son, don’t let them slip
from your eyes;
hold on to sound judgment
and discretion.
22 They will be life for your whole being,
and an ornament for your neck.
23 Then you will walk safely on your path,
and your foot won’t stumble.
24 If you lie down, you won’t be terrified.
When you lie down,
your sleep will be pleasant.
25 Don’t fear sudden terror
or the ruin that comes to the wicked.
26 The LORD will be your confidence;
he will guard your feet
from being snared.
27 Don’t withhold good
from someone who deserves it,
when it is in your power to do so.
28 Don’t say to your neighbor,
"Go and come back;
I’ll give it to you tomorrow,"
when you have it.
29 Don’t plan to harm your neighbor
who trusts and lives near you.
30 Don’t accuse anyone without reason,
when they haven’t harmed you.
31 Don’t envy violent people
or choose any of their ways,
32 Devious people are detestable to the LORD,
but the virtuous are his close friends.
33 The LORD’s curse is on
the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home
of the righteous.
34 He mocks mockers,
but he shows favor to the humble.

35 The wise gain respect,
but fools receive shame.

Proverbs 3

Exhortations to Seek Wisdom and Walk with the Lord

1 My child,t do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keept my commandments,

2 for they will providet a long and full life,t
and they will add well-beingt to you.

3 Do not let truth and mercyt leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.s

4 Then you will findt favor and good understanding,t
in the sight of God and people.t

5 Trusts in the Lord with all your heart,s
and do not relyt on your own understanding.t

6 Acknowledget him in all your ways,t
and he will make your paths straight.t

7 Do not be wise in your own estimation;t
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.s

8 This will bringt healing to your body,s
and refreshmentt to your inner self.t

9 Honort the Lord from your wealth
and from the first fruits of all your crops;t

10 then your barns will be filled completely,t
and your vatss will overflowt with new wine.

11 My child, do not despise discipline from the Lord,t
and do not loathet his rebuke.

12 For the Lord disciplinest those he loves,
just as a fathers disciplinest the son in whom he delights.

Blessings of Obtaining Wisdom

13 Blessedt is the onet who findst wisdom,
and the one who obtainst understanding.

14 For hert benefitt is more profitablet than silver,
and hert gaint is bettert than gold.

15 She is more precious than rubies,
and none of the thingst you desiret can comparet with her.t

16 Long lifet is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.

17 Her ways are very pleasant,t
and all her paths are peaceful.

18 She is liket a tree of lifes to those who obtain her,t
and everyone who grasps hold of her will be blessed.t

19 By wisdom the Lord laid the foundation of the earth;t
he established the heavens by understanding.s

20 By his knowledge the primordial seas was broken open,s
and the clouds drip down dew.s

21 My child, do not let themt escape from your sight;
safeguard sound wisdom and discretion.t

22 Sot they will givet life to you,t
and grace to adornt your neck.t

23 Then you will walk on your wayt with security,
and yout will not stumble.s

24 Whent you lie down you will not be filled with fear;t
whent you lie down your sleep will be pleasant.t

25 You will not be afraidt of suddent disaster,t
or when destruction overtakest the wicked;t

26 for the Lord will bett the source of your confidence,t
and he will guard your foots from being caught in a trap.t

Wisdom Demonstrated in Relationships with People

27 Do not withhold good from those who need it,t
whent youst have the abilityt to help.t

28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go! Return tomorrow
and I will give it,” whent you have it with you at the time.t

29 Do not plots evil against your neighbor
whent he dwells by you unsuspectingly.

30 Do not accuses anyonet without legitimate cause,t
if he has not treated you wrongly.

31 Do not envy a violent man,t
and do not choose to imitatet any of his ways;

32 for one who goes astrayt is an abominationt to the Lord,
but he revealst his intimate counselt to the upright.

33 The Lord’s curset is on the householdt of the wicked,s
but he blessess the homet of the righteous.t

34 Althought he is scornful to arrogant scoffers,t
yett he shows favor to the humble.t

35 The wise inherit honor,
but he holds fools ups to public contempt.t